Ivanka to Modi: From tea seller to Indian PM, you’ve proved change is possible

At the GES 2017 in Hyderabad, Ivanka Trump also pitched for access to capital and equitable laws for women entrepreneurs, saying closing the gender entrepreneurship gap could grow global GDP by up to 2%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Ivanka Trump, the daughter of advisor to the US President, on the sidelines of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit-2017 in Hyderabad on Tuesday.(PTI.PIB)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved that transformational change is possible in rising from a humble tea seller to heading the country, Ivanka Trump, daughter of and advisor to US President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday.

“What you are achieving here is truly extraordinary. From...selling tea to your election as India’s Prime Minister, you’ve proven that transformational change is possible,” the 36-year-old said at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which was conceived by former US president Barack Obama.

“And thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for joining us here today -- and for all that you are doing to build India as a thriving economy -- a beacon of democracy -- and a symbol of hope to the world,” she said.

She applauded Modi for his firm belief that “the progress of humanity is incomplete without the empowerment of women” and went on to congratulate Indians on celebrating 70 years of Independence. “You are celebrating it as the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest growing economies on the earth,” she said.

In his speech, Modi highlighted the summit’s stress on women entrepreneurs.

“What makes this edition of GES stand out is ‘women first, prosperity for all’... We believe women’s empowerment is vital to our development,” Modi said.

Addressing the business summit, Trump also said “through your own enterprise, entrepreneurship and hard work, the people of India have lifted more than 130 million citizens out of poverty -- a remarkable improvement”.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, however, said her statement was a reference to the previous UPA government’s tenure.

Trump, who is also a fashion designer and a businesswoman, met PM Modi earlier in the day on the sidelines of the summit that is being jointly hosted by India and the United States.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a picture of the two warmly shaking hands but did not immediately give details of what transpired at the meeting.

“Thank you for the warm welcome,” she tweeted. “I’m excited to be in Hyderabad, India for #GES2017.”

Trump was invited by Modi during his visit to the White House in June to speak at the summit. She is leading the US contingent at the summit, which has ‘Women First, Prosperity for All’ as its theme.

As political and economic ties expand, India has become a major market for the United States, with two-way trade of about $115 billion last year. Military and strategic ties are also improving as China’s influence rises in Asia and beyond.